Aodh Ruadh lift Senior B Championship with battling display against Gaoth Dobhair

Aodh Ruadh produced their best display of the year to upset the odds to defeat Gaoth Dobhair and lift the Senior B Championship.

Aodh Ruadh 1-7   Gaoth Dobhair 0-9

It was a battling display from the Ballyshannon side with the two sides very well matched. The turning point came early in the second half when Damian Weber rifled home the only goal of the game.

In a well contested opening half there were goal chances for both sides early on. Gaoth Dobhair were using the high ball into Kevin Cassidy and there was a chance on 12 seconds with Cassidy breaking a ball to Stephen McFadden, who rattled the crossbar.

Colm McGloin had the opening point for Aodh Ruadh on three minutes and David McGurrin doubled that lead on seven minutes.

Another high ball into Cassidy was again broken to McFadden and this time he fired over the opening score for his side.

The Aodh Ruadh defence was working hard making some good blocks and they went two ahead again from a Damian Weber free on nine minutes. Fiacha Coyle cut the lead again but after another patient build up Donagh McIntyre made it 0-4 to 0-2 on 17 minutes.

In the second quarter the scores dried up for Aodh Ruadh with a few bad wides while Gaoth Dobhair got back on terms. Kevin Cassidy came out the field to set up Danny Curran and then Stephen McFadden levelled matters three minutes from the break.

Half-time: Aodh Ruadh 0-4,  Gaoth Dobhair 0-4.

Gaoth Dobhair hit the front after just 42 seconds of the second half with Cathal Gillespie firing over from distance.

David McGurrin equalised and then Damian Weber fired low from fully 30m to the bottom corner of the net. Michael Sticky Ward won a free a yard inside the ‘45’m line and Weber converted for a four point lead on 38 minutes.

Gary Carty cut through to hit a very good point on 47 minutes as Gaoth Dobhair again went the aerial route. It proved a success when Gavin Sweeney converted a ‘45’

The Aodh Ruadh goal had a narrow escape when another bomb was touched by Cassidy but went wide off a post.

The lead was back to two with quick points from Fiachra Coyle and Eoin de Burca with a minute of normal time left.  Cathal Gillespie closed the gap to one but they were unable to get an equaliser.

Aodh Ruadh scorers: Damian Weber 1-2,2f; David McGurrin 0-2; Gary Carty, Colm McGloin, Donagh McIntyre 0-1 each.

Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Stephen McFadden, Cathal Gillespie (1f), Fiachra Coyle 0-2 each; Gavin Sweeney (45), Danny Curran, Eoin de Burca 0-1 each

Aodh Ruadh: Aaron Cullen; Ryan Keenaghan, Michael Ward, Aidan Sweeny; Gary Carty, Johnny  Gallagher, Daniel Warnock; Odhran McGarrigle, Colm McGloin; Darragh Flood Dolan, David McGurrin, Senan Rooney; Damian Weber, Donagh McIntyre, Michael ‘Sticky’ Ward.

Subs: Johnny Gethins for D McIntyre (41); Tiernan Flood Dolan and Jason Granaghan for McGarrigle and Keenaghan (both 46); Marty McGarrigle for M Sticky Ward  (54); Donagh McIntyre for C McGloin (60+4)

Gaoth Dobhair: Gavin Sweeney; Danny Curran, Sean Gallagher, Eamonn McBride; Jamie McGee, Darragh Ferry, Johnny O’Donnell; Adam McGeever, Fiachra Coyle; Cathal Gillespie, Eoin de Burca, Fionnan Coyle; Stephen McFadden, Kevin Cassidy, Mark McFadden.

Subs: Sean Doherty for M McFadden (ht);  Michael Lynch for S McFadden (37); 

Referee: Connie Doherty (Naomh Conaill)